Chapter 475 – "Hoori Town"
Life is like a book. Before you turn the next page, you never know what you'll see—or what might happen.
The cover might bear a title, or maybe the name of a story.
Reach out and touch that book, and a gentle light blossoms, slowly flipping the page.
The boy follows the glow, stepping into the book—into a new world...
"Sir."
Through a haze of half-sleep, Kaiser thought he heard someone calling him.
"Sir, we're here. Please wake up."
The voice carried a mix of helplessness and impatience, enough to make Kaiser, who'd been dozing off, frown slightly without realizing it.
With a sigh, he opened his eyes and pulled himself back to wakefulness.
"We're here already?" he asked groggily, though his tone stayed steady as he looked toward the taxi driver in front.
He was sitting in the back of a cab. The car had stopped, and the faint swaying he'd felt before was gone.
In the driver's seat, the man glanced at him through the rearview mirror, wearing an apologetic look as he spoke.
"We've arrived in Hoori Town. Will you be getting out here?"
His words were polite, but the subtext was clear: he hoped Kaiser would get out now.
For a taxi driver, that kind of attitude wasn't exactly flattering.
Kaiser shot him a sideways glance, then stretched lazily.
"Yeah, I'll walk the rest of the way. Don't worry, I won't make you drive into that cursed place."
The driver stiffened, his expression awkward.
"N-no, that's not what I meant…" He tried to explain, but Kaiser was already done listening.
He popped the door open and stepped out, then had the driver pop the trunk so he could pull his suitcase out himself.
All the while, the driver never left his seat. Instead, he muttered under his breath.
"Traveling all the way out here, to a land of Curse, just to see some festival… These days, people really don't have anything better to do…"
Unfortunately for him, Kaiser heard every word.
Normally, he would've ignored it. But if the guy wanted to run his mouth, Kaiser wasn't about to let him off without a jab or two.
So he spoke just loud enough to carry, like muttering to himself.
"Funny, the last driver who brought me here went home sick and dropped dead the next day. Guess this one won't be that unlucky, huh?"
The driver went pale as a sheet in an instant.
"S-sir? What did you just say…?" His voice trembled.
"What? Did I say something?" Kaiser's expression shifted smoothly, as if he were keeping calm on purpose. "You must've misheard. I didn't say a thing."
"No… I definitely heard you say—"
"You misheard."
"But just now—"
"You misheard."
"…"
"You misheard. Right?"
Kaiser flashed him a dazzling smile, but his eyes carried no warmth at all.
That alone was enough to break the man.
With a roar of the engine, the driver spun the wheel hard and floored the gas. The cab screeched as it shot down the road like a scared rabbit, vanishing in a cloud of dust.
Kaiser had already stepped back, so the smoke didn't reach him. He stood there calmly, watching the cab flee in panic, his face twisting into a mocking smirk.
"Pathetic. Like I couldn't scare you to death if I wanted to."
Of course, everything he'd said was nonsense.
It had been years since Kaiser last came to Hoori Town. Back then, he'd barely started middle school—there was no way he would've ridden here alone in a taxi.
Besides, the place was remote, buried deep in the mountains. No trains ran here. Buses only came once every hour, and none at all in the early morning or late evening. Taxis rarely bothered to make the trip either, especially since fares in this country weren't cheap. Unless he had no other choice, Kaiser would never take a cab here.
This time, though, he'd already spent two hours on trains, switching lines several times. He'd just missed the bus, and the next wouldn't come for another hour, not to mention the ride itself would take an hour more. He wasn't about to waste that much time, so he'd bitten the bullet and paid for a thirty-minute taxi ride.
"Still as inconvenient as ever. In this day and age, it's rare to find a town this cut off," Kaiser muttered with a sigh as he rolled his suitcase toward the streets of Hoori Town.
The moment he stepped past the first row of houses—
"Whoa—"
A burst of noise and chatter washed over him, making his eyes light up.
The lively street in front of him was a stark contrast to the isolated, outdated image he remembered.
Crowds filled the road. Some wore traditional garb unique to the region, others were clearly tourists like him, and the mix of vendors, shops, and passersby created a vivid, bustling scene.
"I take that back. Sure, it's remote, but this place looks way more alive than I remember," Kaiser said, staring in mild awe at the flow of tourists brushing past him. Years ago, there had never been this many visitors.
Hoori Town had always been tucked away, slow to modernize. The people lived with a culture all their own, almost like the outside world didn't exist.
But one thing had always put the town on the map: its hot springs. The waters here were famous for their miraculous effects—healing the body, soothing the skin, easing fatigue, even purging toxins. Legend said a single soak could work like an elixir of life. Thanks to that, Hoori Town had become a hot spring retreat long ago, and in recent years, a tourist destination with nationwide fame.
No wonder the streets were packed with outsiders.
Still, there hadn't been nearly this many visitors back when he last came. Maybe that meant the town was thriving.
"If it's doing so well now, they should really get a train running here. Fix the transportation already," Kaiser grumbled. "If it weren't such a pain to reach, I would've come back years ago."
"You're just making excuses, Kai. You're the one who never wanted to come. Don't blame it on traffic."
The chiding voice rang out behind him—familiar, and nostalgic.
"That voice…"
Kaiser spun around.
Even with the street overflowing with locals and tourists, he spotted her instantly.
A young woman, maybe two or three years older than him. She wasn't tall—her head barely reached his chin—but her long, dark red hair framed a graceful face with a beauty mark beneath one eye. A woman who could make any man stop and stare.
She wore one of the town's signature outfits, tinged with a Japanese style: a yellow top patterned with flowers, a green split skirt, and brown boots. The mature aura she gave off was softened by an undercurrent of brightness and playfulness.
Even in a crowd, she stood out without trying. And right now, she was smiling at him.
"You're… Sister Roka?" Kaiser blinked, half unsure.
Her smile faltered as she huffed and walked over.
"What's this? Only a few years apart, and you've already forgotten your reliable big sister?" Her voice carried mock irritation—but beneath it was unmistakable joy.
That joy told him everything.
"It really is you, Sister Roka." Kaiser gave her an incredulous once-over. "No wonder I didn't recognize you right away. You've changed way too much."
Images of the past surfaced in his mind.
Roka Maníwa, his childhood friend three years his senior. Back when he visited Hoori Town every year, she was always there. They'd grown up together, in a sense.
The last time he'd seen her, she'd still been in middle school. Around his height, plain in figure, cute enough but not breathtaking.
But now—she'd blossomed into a full-fledged beauty. Her body had filled out with curves even her loose clothes couldn't hide. Her presence alone lit up the street.
It caught him completely off guard.
Too bad she didn't seem to notice the subtext in his words. Instead, she pouted.
"I recognized you right away, Kai. But you didn't recognize me? Guess a few years apart really was enough for you to forget all about your reliable big sis." Her cheeks puffed as she sulked.
Kaiser couldn't help laughing.
On the outside, she'd changed. But inside? She was the same as ever—quick to sulk, easy to tease.
What else could he do but humor her?
After all, this was the childhood friend who'd been with him since he first came to this world.
The thought softened his gaze with a hint of nostalgia.
He still remembered how he'd gotten here.
Drifting like a ghost through a vast library. A book floating in midair, its pages the size of a grown man, radiating dazzling light.
He'd reached out instinctively. The moment he touched it, the world went dark.
When he woke again, he was a newborn baby. A new life, in a world both like and unlike the one he remembered.
A second chance. Rebirth. Maybe even reincarnation, with the memories of his past life intact.
This time, he had a new name, new parents.
His father was from the Dragon Kingdom. His mother, Japanese. They had met here in Hoori Town, fallen in love at first sight, and married soon after.
Which meant his mother was a native of Hoori Town. Her family still lived here.
Every spring and summer break, Kaiser would return with her, spending three or four months here each year. At least, until middle school, when his studies got heavier. Then the trips became fewer and fewer, until they stopped altogether.
Now, as a high school second-year, he'd grown taller, sharper—his height already surpassing Roka's.
The thought made him chuckle as he reached out and patted her head.
"Not good enough, Sister Roka. You used to swear you'd be taller than me someday. Instead, I passed you up, and you actually shrank."
Her face flared crimson.
"I did not shrink! You're the one who shot up like a weed, you idiot Kai!"
She smacked his hand away, then grabbed his cheeks with both hands and tugged hard.
"Was it this mouth? This mouth that dared to say something so rude?"
Her grip was so strong it hurt.
"Quit it, or my skin's gonna tear."
"With how thick your skin is? Not a chance."
"Keep pulling, and I'll fight back."
"Oh yeah? Let's see what you'll do to your big sis."
"Take this—tickle attack!"
"Ahaha! Stop! I give, I give! I was wrong!"
They wrestled right there in the middle of the street, laughing and bickering like no time had passed. Passersby slowed to watch, smiling indulgently at the sight.
But Kaiser had no idea.
In this very town, his life was about to change forever.
Deep within a shrine in Hoori Town, a sword lodged in a massive stone pulsed faintly with light.
Unseen. Unnoticed.
Waiting.
Chapter 476 – "Spring Festival"
After a round of playful bickering, the awkwardness from years apart melted away between Kaiser and Roka Maníwa. Just like that, they slipped back into the rhythm of old childhood friends, chatting and laughing as if nothing had changed.
"So, Sister Roka, you only knew I was coming back today because my mom called you ahead of time, huh? You actually waited here just to meet me?" Kaiser asked as he rolled his suitcase along Hoori Town's busy street.
"Of course." Roka gave a smug little hum, clearly proud of herself. "I get along great with your mom. Since she couldn't come back this time, she called me and asked me to pick you up."
Unlike Kaiser, who hadn't visited in years, his mother still made the trip every year to spend some time here. And ever since the beginning, she'd been especially fond of Roka. Their whole "childhood friend" bond really started because Kaiser's unreliable mom kept inviting Roka over to play until Kaiser eventually got used to having her around.
Normally, kids became childhood friends because their families were close neighbors or their parents had a strong bond. But with Kaiser and Roka, it was just his meddling mother forcing the connection.
"I always wanted a sweet, adorable daughter. Too bad I ended up with a precocious, antisocial son instead."
That was his mother's favorite line.
In her eyes, Roka had always been the daughter she wished she had. It wasn't hard to see why—her family ran a traditional sweet shop, and she'd been helping out there since she was little. Polite, hardworking, reliable—everything his mother adored.
Kaiser, on the other hand, was… well, precocious and withdrawn. He rarely fit in with kids his age, never begged for attention, and always kept his distance. Hardly surprising, considering he'd awakened his past-life memories as a baby. How was someone with the soul of an adult supposed to play tag or hide-and-seek with other kids?
Looking back, it was obvious. His mom dragged him back here every summer break and shoved him into Roka's company because she was worried about him. Even now, though she hadn't come herself, she still called ahead to make sure Roka looked after him.
"You're here this time to help out at Shinato-sou, right?" Roka asked naturally.
Shinato-sou—the inn run by his grandfather, Genjuro Kurama. Known for its warm hospitality, delicious food, and classic Japanese architecture, it was popular with foreign tourists. Every tourist season, it suffered from staff shortages, forcing his grandfather to hire extra help.
Kaiser's mother often came back to help, mostly because she hated seeing her aging father work himself too hard. But this year, she'd thrown the responsibility at Kaiser.
"She said she wanted to take a trip for once, even during the busy season. So she just dragged my dad off with her and shoved me here instead. Told me to spend time with Grandpa, earn some pocket money, and stop lazing around at home." Kaiser groaned. "Tell me, what kind of parents ditch their kid to go on vacation together?"
That made Roka laugh out loud.
"Well, what did you expect? You spend your whole break cooped up at home doing nothing. Your mom told me you don't even have a single friend to hang out with. Better to come here than waste your time hiding in your room playing games." She puffed her cheeks, clearly still annoyed. "If she hadn't sent you, you probably would've forgotten Hoori even existed."
So she was still holding a grudge over how long it had been since he came.
"I've just been busy with school," Kaiser scratched his cheek awkwardly. "You have no idea how insane the studying is in China. Everyone's killing themselves to cram. After middle school comes the college entrance exams. How am I supposed to find the time to travel abroad—especially to somewhere as out-of-the-way as Hoori?"
"Yeah, right." Roka squinted at him, unconvinced. "Don't think I don't know. You've been swinging swords since you were little, training under Genjuro-sensei himself. You even came to Japan for kendo tournaments in middle and high school. Didn't you just win the national championship? They're calling you the Strongest High School Student."
She pinched his cheeks again, this time with a sharp, dangerous smile. "So? You had time for tournaments, but not a single visit home?"
"…You even know about that? Seriously, my mom needs to learn how to keep her mouth shut." Kaiser groaned. He hadn't even told his school back home about the tournament, and yet Roka, in this tiny mountain town, somehow knew? Of course his mom had blabbed. At this point, Roka probably knew him better than he did himself.
"Fine, fine. I won't blame you. This place is remote, after all. Nobody comes here unless they're really free." Roka sighed and let go of his face. Then she tilted her head with a small smile. "Still… to think you actually won the national championship. That's amazing, Kai."
She really was surprised. She'd always known he loved fooling around with a bokken, but she never expected him to reach the level of national champion. To her, he suddenly felt like a completely different person.
"I was just messing around," Kaiser shrugged, completely unbothered.
And he meant it. He'd already known the outcome before he even entered the tournament.
Ever since his rebirth, he'd discovered a strange knack for weapons. Swords, sticks, knives, even kitchen utensils—if he picked it up, he could figure out how to wield it in no time. By three, he was spinning fruit knives like a toy, peeling apples in one perfect strip without wasting a shred of flesh. By five, he was butchering chickens and fish cleanly enough to shock his parents. At seven, he was begging to slaughter pigs and cattle at a butcher's before they stopped him.
At ten, he fought off a rabid dog with nothing but a stick, leaving the neighbors stunned. At twelve, he was showing off knife tricks in a supermarket so smoothly that a famous chef tried to recruit him as an apprentice on the spot.
And swordsmanship? That came from his grandfather. Genjuro Kurama had trained in kendo since childhood, his mastery unmatched. For health reasons, he'd drilled both Kaiser and his biological grandson strictly from a young age.
Kaiser picked it up in a single summer, mastering most of his grandfather's style. He even went into the mountains with a bamboo sword and drove off a wild boar, leaving Genjuro stunned by his talent.
Since then, his grandfather had taken him seriously, tailoring training regimens and forging his body into something far beyond his peers. Thanks to that, Kaiser breezed through every competition he entered—middle school champion, then high school champion, until finally the national title. The ease of it all was exactly why he felt so indifferent.
"Next time, send me a picture of the trophy, okay?" Roka teased with a grin. Then she added, "So, what now? Want to stop by my family's shop first, or head straight to Shinato-sou?"
"Shinato-sou," Kaiser said after a moment. "I've still got this luggage. Better to drop it off before anything else."
"Got it." Roka smiled and walked with him toward the inn.
But partway down the street, the sound of drums and flutes erupted. A crowd surged into view across the road, cheering and shouting as music rang out and performers marched by in colorful costumes.
"What's going on?" Kaiser stopped, blinking.
"Oh, must be the parade," Roka said quickly. "After all, it's Spring Festival."
"Spring Festival?" Kaiser's brows lifted. "So it's that time already, huh."
The Spring Festival was Hoori Town's annual celebration, born from a legend dating back to the Sengoku era.
According to the tale, there was once a woman who charmed and manipulated powerful men, driving them mad with desire and inciting wars. She spread chaos among lords, stoking their ambition until Hoori was invaded and its people suffered. Worse, she wielded dark sorcery, nearly destroying the town entirely.
Desperate, the townspeople prayed to their local god for salvation. The deity answered, granting them the Divine Blade—a sword said to cut down monsters and demons alike.
With it, they not only repelled the invaders but also slew the sorceress herself. When her corpse revealed she'd been a yokai all along, the sword was enshrined in Mitake Shrine, worshipped for generations.
That legend became the Spring Festival.
During the festival, men dressed as victorious warriors paraded through the streets in armor on horseback, while the shrine's miko performed the Kagura Dance in the shrine hall.
Kaiser had heard the story countless times as a child. He just hadn't expected to return and stumble right into it.
"So? Want to go check it out?" Roka nudged him. "It's been years since you've seen a Spring Festival, hasn't it?"
"More like, I never really joined in at all," Kaiser admitted with a shrug. "It wasn't always festival season when I visited."
"Then all the more reason to go now!" Roka suddenly pushed at his back, excitement lighting her face. "The parade's headed for the shrine. If we hurry, we might even catch Lady Miko performing the Kagura Dance."
"Wait, I still have my luggage!" Kaiser protested with a wry smile. "What's with the sudden energy?"
"Because your mom asked me to take care of you." Roka said it like it was obvious. "She told me she doesn't want her dumb son acting like a shut-in, so she asked me to drag you out whenever I can."
"…How thoughtful of her."
"It's because she cares. Here, give me your luggage. I know someone nearby—we'll leave it at their shop."
"Fine, fine. You win," Kaiser muttered, letting himself get pushed along.
The parade was as lively as promised. Locals in armor marched with pride, horses clopped down the road, and tourists swarmed around snapping photos. Foreign visitors, in particular, seemed fascinated.
Kaiser and Roka slipped into the crowd, following the parade all the way to the heart of the town—Mitake Shrine.
Thump-thump—
All at once, Kaiser felt a strange pulse in his chest. His hand rose instinctively to clutch it.
His eyes drifted toward the shrine, as though piercing through the walls to glimpse what lay inside. His gaze flickered with unease.
Chapter 477 – The Miko with Beast Ears
Thump-thump—thump-thump—thump-thump.
The powerful, rhythmic beating in Kaiser's chest wouldn't stop. He pressed a hand over his heart, his thoughts whispering to themselves.
That feeling… it's back again.
Yes.
This strange phenomenon wasn't new to him.
The very first time Kaiser had stepped into the grounds of Mitake Shrine as a child, the same thing had happened. Back then it scared him half to death—he thought something was seriously wrong with his body. Afterward, he even got a full check-up, and for years he'd avoided coming back to the shrine at all, just in case.
But now, years later, he'd returned to Hoori Town during the Spring Festival, and the moment he stepped into the shrine grounds… the sensation struck him again.
"What the hell is this…?"
This time, he forced himself to stay calm. He stared at the shrine before him, lost in thought.
Just then, Roka suddenly lit up, spotting someone in the crowd.
"Look, Kai! It's Rentaro and Koharu!"
Before Kaiser could respond, she waved both arms high and shouted.
"Hey! Rentaro! Koharu! Over here!"
Mitake Shrine was packed, its courtyard overflowing since the parade had entered. Roka's voice was loud, but in this chaos it kept getting drowned out. After several tries, she finally caught the attention of a pair of siblings pushing through the crowd.
"What, it's just you, Sister Roka? I thought one of those pretty foreign tourists I was chatting up was calling me."
The first to speak was a boy just a little shorter than Kaiser, lean and sharp-looking, with a bit of handsome charm. Around Kaiser's age, he looked full of energy—but there was an undeniable frivolousness about him. His eyes were bright with anticipation until he saw it was only Roka, at which point his expression dropped in disappointment.
"Sister Roka! You came to see Lady Miko's Kagura Dance too? I thought you'd be helping at the shop today!"
The next voice was cheerful and clear, belonging to a petite girl with long pink hair tied into twin tails. Her face was adorably expressive, her voice sweet and lively. She wore a pale yellow one-piece dress similar in style to Roka's, with a blue butterfly ornament at the chest that perfectly matched her youthful charm.
The siblings—one frivolous, one bright and innocent—were none other than Rentaro Kurama and Koharu Kurama.
Suppressing the odd sensation in his chest, Kaiser smiled at them.
"You're Rentaro? And Koharu? Wow, it's been a while. You two have changed a lot."
The siblings blinked, stunned. Their gazes locked on him—then their eyes went wide.
"No way… you're Kaiser?!" Rentaro burst out, first shocked, then grinning in delight. "Yeah, it's you! You actually came back!"
"Brother…?" Koharu gasped, covering her mouth, eyes sparkling with disbelief. "You're really Kaiser-oniichan? Is it true?"
These two weren't strangers at all. They were Genjuro Kurama's grandchildren—Kaiser's cousins.
"Took you long enough to come back, huh? You bastard, why didn't you tell us?" Rentaro clapped him on the shoulder, half laughing, half scolding, before giving him a playful punch.
"Welcome back, Kaiser-oniichan! Finally!" Koharu grabbed the corner of his shirt with both hands, the same habit she'd had as a little girl.
Years apart hadn't changed a thing. Neither of them treated him like an outsider—they welcomed him home as if he'd never left.
"My mom made me. Said Grandpa needed help," Kaiser admitted with a chuckle. "Wait, Grandpa didn't tell you I was coming?"
"Not a word!" Rentaro scoffed. "He's one of the organizers for the Spring Festival this year. Ever since last month he's been running around nonstop. Barely even comes home. You think he had time to mention you?"
"So you'll be staying awhile then, right, Kaiser-oniichan?" Koharu clapped her hands happily. "That's great! It's been forever since all of us were together!"
Roka smiled beside them, clearly just as pleased. When they were kids, the four of them had been inseparable—Kaiser, his two cousins, and Roka, who his mom had all but forced into their circle as the "reliable big sister." Those days had been filled with laughter and mischief. Now, at last, their little group was whole again.
"Back when you stopped coming, Koharu wouldn't stop talking about you," Roka teased, unable to resist. "Every time I called your mom, she'd pester me—'Did she say when Kaiser's coming back? When's he coming back?' I thought I'd go crazy."
"True." Rentaro instantly joined in, throwing his sister under the bus. "It was all 'Kaiser-oniichan this, Kaiser-oniichan that.' Anyone listening would've thought you were her real brother. Drove me nuts."
"I-I didn't talk about him every day!" Koharu's face turned bright red as she darted a shy glance at Kaiser. "Sister Roka! Rentaro-nii! Don't say stuff like that!"
"Don't blame us. Look at you right now." Rentaro clicked his tongue. "I've never seen you blush once in front of me, but the second Kaiser shows up, you're acting all bashful. Shameless."
"I-I'm not acting bashful! You're the shameless one, Rentaro-nii, always hitting on girls!"
That made Kaiser blink.
"…Wait. Hitting on girls? You?" He eyed Rentaro as if he'd just grown a second head. "Since when did you have the guts for that?"
"Hey, come on. What guy doesn't?" Rentaro said, puffing his chest out proudly. "This town's small. Everybody knows everybody. If you don't put yourself out there, the good ones will get snatched up. I refuse to end up in some awkward arranged marriage with a girl I grew up with. No way."
He slung an arm around Kaiser's shoulder, grinning like a fox.
"Anyway, you're from a big city. Don't tell me you've never had a girlfriend or two? Don't tell me you're still the same loner you were back then?"
That instantly caught Roka's attention. She perked up with interest, while Koharu tilted her head, trying—and failing—to eavesdrop discreetly.
"Sorry to disappoint. I haven't changed much. Aside from getting taller, I'm still the same." Kaiser brushed Rentaro's arm off casually. "Just because I live in a big city doesn't mean I have to date someone. Honestly, I've never been interested in the girls at school."
Roka looked mildly disappointed, like she'd been hoping for juicier gossip. Koharu, on the other hand, tried to hide her smile as relief washed over her. Rentaro only groaned like a man watching his friend waste pure gold.
"You don't know how good you've got it. City girls are gorgeous, open-minded… If I were you, I'd have a few lined up already."
"Don't listen to him, Kaiser-oniichan!" Koharu huffed, glaring at her brother. "Not everyone's shameless like you!"
Kaiser chuckled. "He's not entirely wrong. Some are open-minded. But gorgeous? Not so much. Most of them are shallow or fake. Honestly, I think country girls have them beat in both looks and sincerity." He glanced at Rentaro. "So take my advice: appreciate what's around you. You think city girls are easy, but guys like you would just get chewed up and spat out."
Before Rentaro could argue, the noise of the crowd suddenly dropped.
"They're here!" Roka tugged at Kaiser's sleeve, eyes bright. "Lady Miko's about to start the Kagura Dance!"
Kaiser didn't need the reminder. His gaze was already fixed forward.
From the shrine, a girl emerged.
She looked about his age—older than Koharu, younger than Roka—and carried herself with an aura that made the air itself feel different. Her long white hair, pure as snow, was tied into a bun with two slender locks falling like tails. A golden crown rested on her head, adorned with lotus-shaped ornaments that radiated solemn beauty.
Her skin was pale and flawless, her legs long and graceful beneath the crimson hakama and white robes of a shrine maiden. Over her shoulders draped a pale pink chihaya fading into white, its hem tied with red cords. Compared to ordinary shrine garb, hers was strikingly elegant, almost regal.
And her face—delicate, perfectly balanced, framed by sapphire-blue eyes—was breathtaking. She looked less like a girl and more like a princess from a fairy tale, or perhaps a goddess from myth.
"That's… Lady Miko?" Kaiser whispered.
In Hoori Town, the miko was no ordinary figure. She was the heart of the town's stories, the most respected person in their traditions. No one dared call her anything less than "Lady Miko."
Now, in front of the crowd, she raised her ritual implement and began to dance.
The courtyard fell silent.
Even Rentaro and Koharu, usually chatterboxes, shut their mouths without realizing it. Like Roka, they stared, entranced.
Kaiser too felt his breath catch.
Her movements were mesmerizing. Each step was graceful, each turn sent her long hair swaying, her sleeves fluttering like water fans. The solemn focus in her sapphire eyes wasn't forced or theatrical—it was sincere, reverent, as if she were truly offering her dance to the gods.
Grace. Discipline. Dignity. Devotion.
Kaiser saw all of it in her. Combined with her ethereal beauty, it was no wonder everyone around him was spellbound.
This blows Rentaro's nonsense out of the water. He said country girls can't compare to city ones? She's a hundred times more beautiful than any of them.
To Kaiser, this shrine maiden was the single most stunning girl he'd ever seen—this life or the last.
Only in anime, he thought, did girls like this exist. Yet here she was.
Then—
"…Huh?" Kaiser blinked, his breath hitching.
Was that… my imagination?
For just an instant, he could've sworn…
On top of Lady Miko's head… a pair of ears had appeared.
Not human ears.
Beast ears.
Small, white, twitching like those of a fox—or a dog.
"…."
Kaiser froze, staring, completely speechless.
Chapter 478 – "Murasame-maru"
No one knew how long it had been when Lady Miko's Kagura Dance finally came to an end. With a clear chime of bells, she bowed gracefully and slowly retreated back into the shrine.
Only once she vanished from sight did the crowd begin to stir again, the silence giving way to excited chatter.
"Lady Miko's dance was so beautiful."
"Yeah, no matter how many times I see it, it never loses its charm."
"It's one of Hoori's unique traditions. These days, plenty of tourists come here just for Lady Miko's dance."
Koharu , Roka, and Rentaro all shared their impressions freely, while the surrounding visitors wore expressions of lingering awe.
Watching them, Kaiser couldn't help but wonder if the unbelievable sight from before had been his alone. There was no way—absolutely no way—that if everyone had seen beast ears suddenly sprout from that beautiful shrine maiden's head, they'd just shrug it off. Especially the locals. If they had witnessed that, it would've caused a complete uproar.
His mind replayed what that taxi driver had said when he arrived in town:
"Traveling all the way out to this land of Curse just for a festival… People these days really don't have anything better to do."
That thought left Kaiser strangely quiet.
Curse—an old legend that had been passed down here for centuries. It was said that after the wars of the Sengoku era, the remnants of the defeated yokai's spirit clung to this land, festering into a Curse. In particular, the women of the ruling family were said to have borne the brunt of it, causing many unsettling incidents.
"A cursed land, serving a cursed princess."
That phrase spread through the neighboring regions, giving rise to the Curse.
Because of it, Hoori Town was long seen as a place of ill omen. A land shunned and despised, even as it became more lively in recent years. Foreigners poured in for the hot springs and festivals, but domestic visitors remained rare. Locals still feared and rejected the Curse.
Kaiser had grown up hearing the tale, but he'd always dismissed it. Until now.
After what he'd just seen on Lady Miko's head, he couldn't shake the thought: maybe the Curse wasn't just some baseless rumor.
Thump-thump—thump-thump.
His heartbeat pounded harder than ever, reminding him that his own body was reacting to all of this.
Everything screamed the same truth at him—
Hoori Town isn't as simple as I thought.
There were secrets here. Ones that might overturn everything he believed.
"This… this world isn't just ordinary daily life, is it?" he muttered, rubbing his forehead, for the first time doubting the nature of the world he'd reincarnated into.
"Hey, Kaiser." Rentaro suddenly slapped his shoulder, snapping him back. "What are you spacing out for?"
He blinked, realizing everyone was looking at him.
"Tired?"
"Do you want to head back and rest?"
Roka and Koharu both asked with concern.
"I'm fine." Kaiser shook his head, hesitated, then asked decisively, "Can I go inside the shrine?"
He'd noticed a line of tourists outside, waiting their turn to enter. He wanted to see for himself.
"That should be fine," Roka said, though she didn't know what had gotten into him. "They're letting visitors in right now for other activities."
"But if you want to join the events, you'd need to have been selected ahead of time," Rentaro added, knowing more details. "Of course, just going inside is another matter."
"Grandpa's inside right now," Koharu said sweetly, tugging on Kaiser's sleeve out of habit. "Do you want to see him, Kaiser-oniichan?"
Genjuro Kurama was one of the festival's chief organizers. If Kaiser entered as family, there would be no problem.
"Then let's go." Kaiser wasn't going to hesitate. "It'll be good to greet Grandpa anyway."
Without waiting, he strode toward the shrine, forcing the others to hurry after him.
The four of them slipped inside without issue, making their way to a wide chamber that served as the shrine's inner sanctum.
Inside, visitors stood neatly in line, a queue stretching forward toward a raised platform at the far end.
On that platform sat a massive boulder, encircled with sacred ropes. Embedded within the rock was something unmistakable. Visitors stepped up one at a time, extending their hands toward it.
Thump-thump—thump-thump—thump-thump.
Kaiser's heart thundered even louder now, so strong it felt like his chest might burst. Yet there was no pain—only adrenaline, heat, a strange exhilaration flooding his veins.
"That thing stuck in the stone…" He already knew what it was.
Before he could act, however, a familiar voice rang out.
"Rentaro. Koharu."
An elderly man approached. His hair was white, his eyes gray, his face weathered with stern wrinkles and a neatly kept beard. He wore a kimono, his expression as unyielding as stone itself.
"Grandpa!"
"Grandpa!"
Rentaro and Koharu stiffened immediately, calling out respectfully as tension crept into their voices.
"Grandpa," Kaiser greeted more calmly, turning to face him.
Genjuro Kurama.
"So it's you, Kaiser?" The old swordsman's sharp gaze locked on him, as sharp as any blade, enough to make lesser men flinch.
That was Genjuro—severe, uncompromising. Rentaro and Koharu feared him, even Kaiser's usually brazen mother never dared talk back when he was angry. His father practically turned into a cornered mouse whenever they met.
Kaiser, though, had never been afraid. He knew his grandfather's harshness came from care. The strict training, the sword drills, the exercise regimens—they were proof of that.
"It's been a while, Grandpa."
"Hm." Genjuro nodded with grave approval, giving Kaiser a once-over. "Good. You've grown strong. Stronger than Rentaro, at least."
Rentaro glanced between himself and Kaiser, realizing it was true.
"I've heard you won the national kendo championship," Genjuro continued, a flicker of pride in his eyes. "So you haven't neglected your training after all."
"I only practiced enough to keep my form sharp. The tournament was nothing serious," Kaiser replied honestly. "I didn't expect my opponents to be so weak—just a bunch of flashy moves."
That wasn't arrogance. It was fact. Compared to the practical, lethal swordsmanship Genjuro had taught him, tournament kendo was child's play.
Genjuro had trained since the days when men still carried swords openly. His art wasn't for show—it was forged for battle, for killing. Kaiser had been raised on that same path. His style was made for combat, far deadlier than anything in a competition.
Add to that his innate genius with weapons—able to master anything he picked up—and it was no wonder he crushed every match without effort.
A national championship? For him, it was child's play.
"As long as you've kept your blade sharp, that's enough. Winning or losing tournaments is secondary." Genjuro's voice hardened again. "But never grow arrogant. This era may not duel with real swords anymore, but never underestimate others."
"I understand, Grandpa." Kaiser accepted the lesson without resistance, then asked, "What about Shinato-sou?"
"Stay there for now," Genjuro said firmly. "Rest tonight. We'll discuss your duties tomorrow."
"Got it." Kaiser nodded.
His composure in front of Genjuro impressed the others.
"Kai's just like always. He's never scared of Genjuro-san," Roka whispered.
"Yeah, Kaiser-oniichan's amazing. I can't even look Grandpa in the eye without panicking," Koharu admitted with a sheepish laugh.
"Tch. I'm his real grandson, but the outsider's the one who gets all the attention," Rentaro muttered bitterly.
"That's because you're too frivolous, Rentaro-nii. Grandpa doesn't like that attitude," Koharu shot back.
While they bickered, Kaiser refocused on the chamber's main event.
"This activity… it's that one, isn't it?"
"Yes," Genjuro confirmed. "Letting tourists attempt to draw the Divine Blade. It's a special ritual held only during the Spring Festival."
The tale was well known. Centuries ago, when Hoori prayed to the gods, they were granted the Divine Blade to defeat the yokai and reclaim peace. That sword had been enshrined here ever since—still lodged in the great stone.
Legend said only the chosen one, acknowledged by the blade, could draw it. Like Excalibur in Arthurian legend, no ordinary person could pull it free.
To attract visitors, the shrine held this event each year, selecting participants by lottery to try their luck. It was famous enough to draw crowds even from overseas, especially Europeans familiar with the Arthurian myths.
"Can I go take a look?" Kaiser asked, hand unconsciously pressing against his chest.
"Go," Genjuro said simply. "Just don't disrupt the ritual."
Kaiser nodded, drew in a deep breath, and walked toward the stone.
Before long, he reached the platform.
And there it was—the sword.
A standard katana in shape, its hilt and guard simple, but its blade gleamed like silver, a cold arc of light that seemed to pierce the soul. Half its length was buried in the stone, only the upper blade and hilt exposed.
One by one, visitors stepped forward. Muscular men strained until their faces turned red, delicate women pulled with all their might—but none could move the blade an inch.
The Divine Blade of Hoori Town. Its name was—
Murasame-maru.
Hum—
For an instant, the sword glowed faintly. No one noticed. Not the tourists gripping it, not the crowd.
Only Kaiser saw.
Thump-thump—thump-thump—thump-thump.
His heart raced, harder than ever before.
And in that moment, an overwhelming urge surged through him.
He wanted to draw the sword.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 479 – "The Draw"
"Kaiser?"
"Kaiser…!"
"Big brother!"
"What are you doing?!"
Voices reached his ears—Genjuro Kurama's, his friends', even the stunned shouts of tourists waiting in line.
But Kaiser barely heard them.
All he could hear was the thunder in his chest—thump-thump, thump-thump—drowning out every other sound. That strange, irresistible urge pushed him forward, out of the crowd and up the platform.
By the time he realized it, he was already standing before the sword buried in stone.
Zheng…
The faint glow along the blade brightened, its flicker falling into rhythm with Kaiser's heartbeat, as if urging him, calling out in expectation.
"…"
Kaiser stared at the blade. Legends about the Divine Blade flashed through his mind—myths more than history. He couldn't possibly prove whether they were true.
Even the locals mostly dismissed them as stories, superstition clung to by the older generation. Tourists treated it as nothing more than a clever attraction. Kaiser had thought the same.
Every country had its tourist bait—mystical legends tied to local landmarks. Hoori's hot springs were a prime example. If they really cured every disease and made your skin flawless, they'd have been seized by the government long ago, not left open as a tourist business.
Until today, Kaiser had always believed Murasame-maru was nothing more than an exhibit. Even when he felt that strange reaction earlier at the shrine, he hadn't taken it seriously.
But this time was different.
This wasn't just a prop.
Just like King Arthur's sword in the stone, no one had ever drawn it out. Kaiser once thought there must be some hidden mechanism behind it.
Now he knew better.
No mechanism.
No trick.
The Divine Blade simply couldn't be drawn—because it had been waiting.
Waiting for him.
Crackle—
The instant Kaiser's hand closed around Murasame-maru's hilt, it was like being struck by invisible lightning. A numb current jolted through his palm.
Then, unmistakably, emotions poured into him through the blade—warmth, joy, welcome.
Without hesitation, Kaiser pulled.
Shing!
With a clear, ringing note of steel, the blade slid free—something no one had ever managed before.
Silver light flared, then quickly softened, the sword's brilliance folding inward until it seemed plain, ancient, almost ordinary.
Yet in his hand, Kaiser felt as if his arm had grown an extension. His movements blended seamlessly with the weapon, as though he and the sword had become one.
He had never felt this with any weapon before. From childhood he'd been gifted—able to wield any tool, any blade, like second nature. But even with real swords, they'd never been more than wood or steel in his grip.
This was different. Holding Murasame-maru felt like fusing with a living soul—resonating with something beyond him. He liked it instantly.
And the sword seemed to feel the same. From its hilt came a surge of elation, a playful excitement, like a voice whispering, Finally… you're here.
When Kaiser finally tore his eyes away from the blade and looked down from the platform, he found the world frozen.
Everyone stared at him, silent and stunned.
Especially Genjuro Kurama and the others—shock written across their faces.
"Kaiser! Y-you actually drew the Divine Blade?!" Roka Maníwa gasped, utterly speechless.
"No way… for real?" Rentaro Kurama gawked.
"Big brother…" Koharu Kurama covered her mouth, eyes wide with disbelief.
The three of them were born and raised here. They knew the legends better than anyone, had all tried—and failed—to pull the sword themselves. They had watched countless others fail, year after year.
They'd even suspected foul play behind the ritual, only to be scolded by their elders and firmly denied.
Eventually, failure had become routine. The sight of Murasame-maru unmoved in its stone was part of daily life.
But today, that truth was shattered—by the childhood friend, the cousin they'd grown up with.
Kaiser had drawn the Divine Blade.
"Kaiser, you…" Genjuro's voice cut through. After his shock faded, his face hardened into seriousness.
"Genjuro-san!"
"Genjuro-san, what do we do—?!"
Shrine staff and attendants rushed to him, panic in their eyes.
Genjuro didn't hesitate. His tone carried authority.
"Clear the tourists. Announce the ritual is canceled. And notify the Head Priest—Yasuharu Tomotake—immediately."
The staff straightened, tension easing as they moved into action.
Though Genjuro wasn't shrine personnel, his reputation in Hoori carried weight. The Kurama Family had deep roots here, holding positions of importance for generations. Genjuro himself was a respected elder and served as overseer for the Spring Festival. Even shrine staff deferred to him.
Still…
"To think this day would actually come…" Genjuro murmured, his gaze heavy as it lingered on Kaiser, standing calmly despite the whispers and stares.
His eyes were filled with both sorrow and pride.
———
That day would forever mark Hoori Town.
News spread like wildfire. Too many witnesses, too many mouths—it couldn't be contained. Within half a day, the entire town knew.
"The Divine Blade was drawn?"
"For real?"
"Someone actually pulled it out?"
"And it was Genjuro Kurama's grandson?"
"This is huge!"
Excitement rippled everywhere—streets, shops, homes. People gossiped louder than during festival nights.
But if the townsfolk were merely shocked, for Mitake Shrine it was an earthquake.
"What did you just say?"
In the shrine, the Head Priest himself—a kindly-looking man with always-narrowed eyes—was staring wide-eyed for once, shaken to the core.
"The Divine Blade… Murasame-maru was drawn?"
"Yes, Yasuharu-sama." A priest bowed deeply. "Many witnessed it, myself included. Genjuro-san halted the ritual immediately and sent me to report."
The Head Priest's lips pressed together, his face shifting through emotions. Finally, after a long silence, he sighed.
"Do we know who drew it?"
"Yes." The priest's voice dropped. "It seems to be Genjuro-san's grandson."
"His grandson?" Yasuharu's eyes flickered. "Then he's a local?"
"Half. His father's from a great nation overseas. But his mother is Genjuro's daughter—born here. So the boy carries half Hoori blood."
The priest went on, "He used to spend a lot of time here as a child. Only in recent years has he visited less. Today he returned to help at Genjuro's inn, wandered into the shrine… and pulled the blade."
The Head Priest's face clouded again, thoughts shifting. After a moment, he asked quietly, "Where is the boy now? Still in the shrine?"
"Yes. Genjuro had him wait here, saying he'd speak with you later."
"Good." Relief softened Yasuharu's expression. "Thank you. Help with the cleanup after the ritual's cancellation. I'll wait for Genjuro here."
The priest bowed and left.
Yasuharu watched him go, then rose, moving toward another chamber.
His daughter's room.
The Miko-sama of Hoori.
She needed to know. She needed to be ready to cooperate—for that matter.
"…Let's hope Yoshino doesn't give me trouble," he muttered.
———
Dusk fell.
The festival ended, crowds thinning. Lights glowed from wooden houses, painting the streets in a warm, tranquil wash. Unlike the cities with neon signs blazing all night, Hoori slipped into quiet, serene countryside calm.
But Kaiser was still inside the shrine.
"…Seriously, how long do they expect me to wait?"
Sitting cross-legged on the wooden floor, his patience was running out.
Ever since he'd drawn Murasame-maru, everyone else had been ushered out—Roka, Rentaro, Koharu, all taken away before he could even speak. Genjuro himself had only tossed him one line—"Stay here. Don't leave."—before vanishing.
Kaiser hadn't complained. He knew the sword wasn't just a prop. He could guess there were secrets hidden in this town, mysteries tied to the blade.
And he was curious. So he stayed, eager to see what would unfold.
But he hadn't expected to be left sitting here all the way from day to night.
He'd flown in that morning, transferred trains for hours, then taken a taxi to Hoori. He hadn't eaten a thing all day, barely drank any water. Now, after waiting into the night, his stomach growled nonstop. Hunger fogged his head.
If he could still sit calmly after all that, he wouldn't be human.
"They're not planning to lock me up and starve me to death, are they?" Kaiser muttered, lifting the sword he still held.
"Maybe you're not some divine blade at all. Maybe you're a cursed demon sword, sealed here until I went and released you by accident. And now they all think I'm the disaster walking around…"
The words had barely left his lips when a voice shot back from the empty shrine—sharp, indignant.
"Murasame is not a cursed demon sword!"
Chapter 480 – "The Administrator"
"Hm?"
The sudden voice made Kaiser freeze.
Until now, he hadn't sensed any presence. No footsteps, no sign of anyone nearby.
"Who's there?"
He shot to his feet, gripping Murasame-maru tight as his eyes swept the shrine.
Nothing. Not a single shadow.
"Don't look around so much, Master."
The same voice spoke again, clearer this time—light, lilting, yet filled with annoyance.
"Up here. I'm above you. Look."
Kaiser tilted his head back—and his eyes widened.
"You can see me, right, Master?"
Floating above him was a girl, small as Koharu Kurama, with long straight hair the color of pale green spring leaves.
She wore a short-skirted kimono that looked almost too light for the season, black as its base color with a bright red sash at her waist. Crimson-purple ties bound her flowing hair on both sides, giving her a lively, playful look. She was, without a doubt, adorable—maybe even cuter than Koharu herself.
The girl hovered weightlessly, staring down at Kaiser with wide sparkling eyes. When she saw him look up, she beamed, breaking into a dazzling smile.
"Oh, oh! I knew it—you really can see me, Master!"
Kaiser stood dumbstruck.
Because however cute she looked, floating in midair like some anime ghost would shatter any normal person's sense of reality.
And with her chirping, "Can you see me?" and "I knew you could"—who wouldn't get chills?
"…A ghost?"
Almost by reflex, Kaiser's grip tightened, ready to swing Murasame-maru at her.
But the girl exploded first.
"I'm not a ghost!" Her bright smile collapsed into outrage. "First you call Murasame-maru a cursed sword, now you're calling me a ghost? What kind of rude Master are you?!"
"Come on, anyone would think you're a ghost," Kaiser shot back. "You're floating in the air and asking if I can see you—that's textbook ghost behavior."
"It is not!" Her voice cracked between anger and flustered panic. "How could I be something like that?! I'm the Administrator of Murasame-maru—the spirit dwelling inside the Divine Blade! A blade spirit, a divine spirit—anything but a ghost!"
"A… blade spirit?" Kaiser blinked. Then his eyes narrowed. "Wait. The one who shared those feelings with me earlier—the joy, the warmth—was that you?"
The girl blinked back, looking lost.
"What joy? What warmth?" she asked, tilting her head. "Did I really send you that?"
Kaiser's eyes flickered. His hand clenched tighter around the hilt.
Even now, he could still feel it. The sword radiated happiness, like it had found its other half—overflowing with trust and affection.
So he believed it: Murasame-maru had its own spirit.
But then… who was this floating girl claiming to be the blade's spirit?
"…I see how it is." Kaiser's expression hardened. "You must be the vengeful ghost of some monster Murasame-maru once killed. And now that I drew the sword, you've come to take revenge on me, huh?"
His eyes narrowed coldly. "You think I'm easy prey? You picked the wrong guy."
He raised Murasame-maru to strike—
And the blade itself shuddered in protest. Kaiser felt its sudden panic, like it was desperately trying to stop him.
Meanwhile the girl, utterly unaware how close she'd come to being cleaved in half, puffed her cheeks in outrage.
"For—the—last—time!" she shouted, practically shaking with fury. "I'm not a ghost! Not a monster! And definitely not some vengeful spirit!"
Her little face scrunched into a scowl as she declared:
"Listen carefully, Master! My name is Murasame, and I'm the Administrator of Murasame-maru!"
"Murasame-maru is a blade granted to humans by the gods. It carries Divine Power. But cold steel can't hold that power alone, so a soul—me—had to dwell inside it. That's how the sword retains its Divine Power!"
"Divine Power rests in me. I rest in Murasame-maru. That's our bond! Which means I'm the spirit of the sword and its Administrator. Not a ghost, not a grudge, nothing like that!"
Murasame puffed up proudly, glaring at him with all her tiny might.
Kaiser let out a slow breath. "So you're just a spirit residing in the sword, not the sword's own will."
That explained it.
Murasame-maru itself had its own essence—that was the one radiating joy and merging with him. But this girl—Murasame—was the divine envoy who carried the power, the Administrator assigned to the blade.
More like a messenger of the gods than the sword's true soul.
A messenger… who didn't seem all that reliable.
"I am the sword's spirit!" Murasame huffed. "If there's some other blade soul, I've never felt it!"
Kaiser fell silent.
So the Administrator didn't even know the sword had its own spirit?
Murasame-maru, seriously? You've never talked to your Administrator? Kaiser thought toward the blade.
——Nope!
The response came to him as clear as if someone had shouted it. Stubborn, smug, and completely unapologetic.
Kaiser almost laughed aloud.
Instead, he looked back at the girl. "So why do you keep calling me Master?"
"Because you are!" she said without hesitation. "You drew Murasame-maru. That makes you the chosen Master. And as the Administrator, it's only natural I acknowledge you as mine."
That actually made sense.
"So the legends of Hoori were real, then? There really are gods and monsters in this world?" Kaiser asked, curiosity sparking.
"Yes, Master." Murasame nodded solemnly. "I've never seen the gods myself, but Murasame-maru's existence is proof enough."
Kaiser sighed. Unreliable indeed. You haven't even met the gods, and yet you claim to carry Divine Power…
Bonk!
His thoughts cut off as the girl suddenly drifted down and knocked him on the head with her tiny fist.
"What the—?!" Kaiser blinked.
"I knew it," Murasame muttered, squinting at him. "You were thinking something rude just now. Look me in the eye."
He glanced away instinctively.
"Ah! You looked away! You were thinking something rude, weren't you, Master?!" she cried.
Then she started hammering his shoulder with her little fists.
Honestly, it felt more like a massage than a beating. Kaiser leaned into it with a sigh. "Not bad. Hit the other side too, my sword arm's a little sore."
"Massage?! This isn't a massage, you idiot Master!" Murasame shrieked, launching a flurry of punches.
"Ahh that feels good" Kaiser groaned dramatically.
Her cheeks flared red. Not from embarrassment, but pure fury.
"Mas—ter—!"
Her cute face twisted into a demonic glare, shadows flickering over her features like a ghost out of a horror movie.
Kaiser's mouth twitched. "Calm down. At this rate you really will look like a vengeful ghost."
"Shut up!" Murasame roared, baring tiny sharp teeth—and then sank them into his hand.
"OW OW OW! Let go, that hurts!"
This time the pain was real. Her little teeth were sharper than they looked.
"I'll bite harder!" she snapped, clamping down even more.
Kaiser flailed his arm, the weightless girl bouncing up and down with each motion like something out of a slapstick anime.
That was the scene when footsteps approached.
"What in the world are you doing, making such a racket?"
The voice belonged to none other than his stern, severe grandfather.
"Grandpa."
Kaiser froze, looking over to see Genjuro Kurama approaching. Beside him walked another man—dressed in shrine robes, his appearance kind, his expression gentle. Though younger than Genjuro, maybe in his forties, his presence radiated quiet authority.
And his narrowed eyes were studying Kaiser with unsettling sharpness.
"This is the Head Priest of Mitake Shrine," Genjuro said gravely.
"Hello, grandson of Genjuro-san," the man greeted warmly. "I am the Head Priest of this shrine—Yasuharu Tomotake."
"Head Priest," Kaiser nodded politely.
"Just call me Yasuharu." The man smiled kindly. "Forgive us for making you wait so long."
"Kaiser, Yasuharu-sama wants to discuss the Divine Blade with you," Genjuro explained. "Murasame-maru is a sacred object of Mitake Shrine—the blade entrusted to Yasuharu-sama's care. The fact that you drew it means you've been acknowledged by it."
"For that reason, Yasuharu-sama has something to ask of you. At least hear him out."
Genjuro's tone was firm but not commanding. He had never forced Kaiser into anything before—only guided him. Even when Kaiser's talent with the sword had first surfaced, Genjuro had encouraged him, not coerced him.
Kaiser understood. His grandfather's request wasn't an order.
"…Very well. Please go ahead, Yasuharu-sama."
He ignored the girl still dangling from his arm—her teeth now more like a puppy's nibble than a serious bite—and turned his full attention to the priest.
Yasuharu, however, didn't speak right away. Instead, he called softly toward the door.
"Yoshino, come in."
The shrine fell silent.
Moments later, soft footsteps entered the room.
A girl stepped through the doorway.
Refined features. Snow-white hair. A graceful miko's robe, worn with perfect poise.
Yoshino Tomotake.
The same shrine maiden who had danced the Kagura Dance earlier, enchanting the entire crowd.
Her eyes—gemlike and dazzling—fixed on Kaiser. But within them swirled a storm of emotions: heavy, conflicted, carefully restrained.
"…I am Yoshino Tomotake. It's a pleasure to meet you." She bowed with impeccable form.
But when she raised her head, her gaze shifted—not to Kaiser's face, but to his hands.
His right hand gripped Murasame-maru.
His left hand… still had Murasame clinging to it.
Her expression grew even more complex. Then her eyes sharpened, piercing into him with a cold, unwavering stare.
A stare that carried resistance. And resolve.
(End of Chapter)